Chennai: Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) is a major public health problem in the state and this is why daily consumption of iodized salt was the devised strategy. However, a large population of children face iodine deficiency as iodized salt is not consumed daily.
The directorate of public health has started a new project to test if school students have a regular intake of iodized salt, under the National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme. The project has been started on a pilot project basis in Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram.
IDD prevalence will rise if consumption of iodine through salt iodisation weakens. A strategy to meet the demand for iodised salt as per the needs for health and nutrition is necessary. The officials are collecting the urine samples of government school students to test if they are consuming iodized salt, under the National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme.
The check of salt samples from retail shops for the content of iodine will be done every month along with the study of urine samples to check the intake among students.
The study is being supported by the iodine deficiency disorder lab that will conduct checks for iodine deficiency disorders. The study will soon be extended to other districts shortly, said public health director Dr K Kolandaisamy.
